Romanian Cup Final

It will be CFR Cluj who will face Poli in the final of the Romanian Cup on the 13th of June, the most likely venue being Targu-Jiu.

RC: Poli - Dinamo 4:1 (1:0)

We had to wait twelve years for this win, but it's here now. A match like this, with such a background to it in general, is always special, no matter how much the Romanian Football Federation try to suck the life out of it. Yesterday, it was through their decision not to allow fans to be in the stadium, as a "punishment" for Dinamo - despite the fact that the match was played on neutral ground and any such punishment was to be applied at the first match on home soil for the Bucharest team. At least that's what the rules said, but it's not like rules matter to these guys, the puppet masters of Romanian football.

Poli played perfectly yesterday, thanks to both Balint's tactical outlook and the player's determination and inspiration. The white-violets defended very well and took their first chance to make it into a goal, in the 27th minute, as Bucur beat the offside trap, dribbled past an opponent, hit the post, and the ball rebounded to Magera who finished coolly - and he could've added another one to his tally, but missed the shot a few minutes later. Dinamo just went on pushing, but they didn't really create any good scoring chances, although Cristea came pretty close on a few occasions.
The second half was a joy to behold. Poli had clearly learned its lesson well and in the 61st minute, Maxim did well on the left wing, crossed poorly, the ball rebounded to Latovlevici who sent another cross in and Abiodun was just at the right place to smash it beyond the goalkeeper! Dinamo managed to pull one back in the 71st minute, with a bit of luck, as Cristea's shot tricked Pantilimon, but the "tension" only lasted a few minutes - Parks did what he wanted with the Dinamo defense and then passed perfectly to Bucur, who had not problem finishing! Izovranu saw a red card in the 84th minute, before Maxim's free-kick was headed into goal by Nibombe, to seal the match at a more than impressive 4-1!

It really was one of those days when football seems to turn everything around. The white-violets are now on course for both the league title and the Romanian Cup, hopefully not too much given how many matches are left to be played and the precarious physical condition of some of our players. But today is really a day to be framed, just one of those perfect days.

Poli: Pantilimon (6) - Stancu (6,5), Luchin (6,5), Nibombe (6,5), Latovlevici (6,5) - Abiodun (6,5), Borbely (6), Cisovsky (6,5), Curtean (6) - Bucur (7), Magera (6,5)

Maxim (6,5), Parks (6,5) and Scutaru came on for Magera, Curtean and Bucur.


Goal Magera (min 27):



Goal Abiodun (min 61):



Goal Cristea (min 72):



Goal Bucur (min 79):



Goal Nibombe (min 86):

Gloria Bistrița - Poli 0:1 (0:0)

A late victory, thanks to Alexandru Curtean's goal in the 90th minute. Details to follow.

Poli - Poli Iași 3:0 (1:0)

It was an easy win today for Poli, although the away side came after a win at home against leaders Dinamo Bucharest. Arman Karamyan's early goal put the white-violets ahead at half-time, and then Bucur scored after an impressive effort in the 55th minute, before Artiom Karamyan was well positioned to push in a Magera shot that had been saved by the goalie.

Poli: Pantilimon (6) - Stancu (6), Luchin (5,5), Cisovsky (6), Latovlevici (6) - Curtean (5), Alexa (6,5), Borbely (6), Art. Karamyan (5,5) - Bucur (6,5), Arm. Karamyan (6,5)

Magera (6), Abiodun (6,5) and Rusic replaced Curtean, Arm. Karamyan and Bucur.


Goal Arm. Karamyan (min 12):



Goal Bucur (min 55):



Goal Art. Karamyan (min 84):




Borbely chance (min 32):



Bucur chance (min 36):



Cristea chance (min 68):



Pantilimon save (min 72):



Cristea chance (min 74):



Magera miss (min 90):

FC Vaslui - Poli 4:3 (2:2)

It was an unfortunate loss for Poli on Saturday, as the white-violets were 2-0 up after ten minutes thanks to a Bucur double, but relinquished their lead following some poor refereeing and lapses of concentration in defence. Although Art. Karamyan managed to put Poli up in front again, Vaslui pounced back and turned the game around in the end, as Balint made a couple of tactical mistakes and the team suffered from severe fatigue (following the 2-0 win against Gloria Bistrita, in the Romanian Cup).

Poli: Pantilimon (5,5) - Badoi (4), Luchin (4,5), Cisovsky (5), Latovlevici (5,5) - Arm. Karamyan (6), Curtean (6), Alexa (4,5), Art. Karamyan (6) - Bucur (6,5), Magera (5,5)

Amuneke (4,5) and Rusici replaced Arm. Karamyan and Art. Karamyan.

RC: Poli - Gloria Bistrita 2:0 (0:0)

Poli took their time to win this Romanian Cup match, as both goals came during added time to the second half. Although the match on the whole was pretty poor, there were a few good scoring chances and, in the end, it was Magera's and Curtean's goals that were decisive.

Next up, the semifinal.

Poli: Pantilimon (6,5) - Badoi (6), Luchin (6), Nibombe (6), Latovlevici (6,5) - Arm. Karamyan (5,5), Alexa (5,5), Borbely (5,5), Art. Karamyan (5,5) - Bucur (5,5), Magera (6,5)

Curtean (6,5), Amuneke (5,5) and Rusic replaced Borbely, Bucur and Art. Karamyan.


Magera goal (min 90):



Curtean goal (min 91):




C. Borbely hits the post (min 5):



Magera chance (min 25):



Pantilimon save (min 56):



Silvasan chance (min 77):



Amuneke shot (min 84):



Rusic miss (min 85):

Poli - Universitatea Craiova 1:0 (0:0)

In the last match day, the white violets did very well in ensuring a win against in form Craiova. Moreover, it was a great football match to watch, both in terms of quality and in terms of drama.

Poli had a series of good chances in the first half, with the away team coming close on counter-attacks. The half's highlight was Craiova missed penalty, in the 45th minute, as Borbely's foul in the area offered Stoica the opportunity to score, but Pantilimon managed to save!
The second half started in the best manner possible, as Poli offered a prompt response and scored, after Bucur jinxed past Stoica and Arman Karamyan was there to tap the ball in. The match remained exciting as both teams could have scored again, but neither Costea for Craiova, nor Parks for Poli managed to put the ball past the opposing keepers from only a few meters away.

Poli: Pantilimon (7) - Bădoi (6), Cisovsky (7), Nibombe (6,5), Latovlevici (6,5) - Arm. Karamyan (7), Alexa (6), Borbely (5), Art. Karamyan (6) - Bucur (6,5), Magera (6,5)

Luchin (6), Vrsic and Parks replaced Cisovsky, Magera and Bucur.


Arm. Karamyan goal (min 48):




Bucur chance (min 1):



Costea chance (min 10):



Art. Karamyan shot (min 28):



Wobay header (min 34):



Missed penalty Stoica (min 45):



Latovlevici chance (min 67):



Pantilimon save (min 83):



Parks miss (min 92):

Rapid - Poli 0:2 (0:2)

After five worrying performances comes this gem of a match, a well deserved victory over the believed in-form Rapid. The key to this win was undoubtedly the team's determination on the whole and, in particular, the presence of Arman Karamyan in the first eleven.

The Armenian midfielder right (for the day) scored both goals of the match, following two great passes/crosses from Magera and Artiom Karamyan. The rest of the match was defined by the good performance of Cisovsky, in defense, and Pantilimon's four important saves. It's especially satisficing to see the young Poli goalkeeper progress so quickly into a good goalkeeper, considering the fact that just over a year ago he was still having a hard time in the Romanian second league.

This win should put Timisoara manager Balint at ease, after coming under quite a bit of pressure following his debut in charge of the white-violets. Surely though, this win will have to be followed with one over Craiova, in the weekend, who are truly flying high, after their win today against league leaders Dinamo (2-0).


Poli: Pantilimon (7) - Badoi (5,5), Nibombe (6), Cisovsky (7), Latovlevici (6) - Arm. Karamyan (7), Alexa (6,5), Borbely (5,5), Art. Karamyan (6,5) - Bucur (6), Magera (6,5)

Au mai intrat Parks, Vrsici și Curtean, înlocuindu-i pe Bucur, Magera și Arm. Karamyan.

Goal Arm. Karamyan (min. 19):



Goal Arm. Karamyan (min. 30):




Spadacio shot (min. 15):



Lazar hits the post (min. 22):



Borbely error (min. 50):

Poli - Gloria Buzău 4:1 (2:1)

Despite the score, today's match was just as bad - if not worse - as the one two weeks ago. With Artiom Karamyan on the bench, resting after a busy international week, the white-violets had a tough time against last placed Gloria Buzau, who showed up with a completely different team compared to the encounter against Dinamo, as all the players loaned by Poli at Gloria were left at home.

With this advantage, there was no question as to who the winner would be. Bucur scored the first after a Buzau defender commited a handball in the penalty area in the 9th minute and Maxim made it two in the 40th, when the Buzau goalie made a huge blunder. The away side got one back just before half-time, but Bucur scored his second of the day in the 63rd minute to seal the three points. The last goal came from Arman Karamyan, who tapped in an easy ball, but the Armenian deserved it, as he played a very fine game - just like Magera and Nibombe.

Poli: Pantilimon (5,5) - Bădoi (5), Cisovsky (6), Nibombe (6,5), Maxim (5) - Curtean (5), Alexa (6), Borbely (5,5), Karamyan (6,5) - Magera (6,5), Bucur (6)

Parks (5,5), Vrsic and Rusic replaced Curtean, Magera and Bucur.

CS Otopeni - Poli 2:2 (1:0)

What can one say after such a poor showing, especially in terms of willpower? After a good start of the match for the white-violets, Otopeni get away through Caramarin and score, and suddenly we're nowhere. It takes another goal from the home side to wake up some of the players and thanks to Magera, Cisovsky and Parks, the latter bagging two goals, Poli got away with a point from the team placed second to last. Worst of all, the football is bad.

Poli: Pantilimon (5) - Bădoi (5,5), Luchin (5), Cisovsky (6), Latovlevici (5) - Stancu (5,5), Alexa (5), Art. Karamyan (6), Curtean (6) - Bucur (5), Magera (6)

Parks (6,5) and Arm. Karamyan replaced Curtean and Bucur.